MUDRAS & HAND SYMBOLISM--THE POWER OF MUDRAS
PART 5 : MUDRAS OF THE EGYPTIAN TRADITION

The ancient Egyptians possessed a fount of occult and mystic wisdom. In those
days the Egyptian mystical brotherhoods or "Mystery Schools" at Luxor, Thebes,
Memphis, and Heliopolis, collectively represented one of the several portals
leading to the Universal Great White Brotherhood whose existence was established
by cosmic beings for the purpose of advancing the evolution of man through
the application of spiritual disciplines and the apprehension of Cosmic laws.
These teachings
were
given in secluded places, in subterranean temples, and at night under the
canopy of the heavens. Many eminent Greek sages studied at these Egyptian
schools of metaphysics, among whom were Plato, Thales, Pythagoras, and
Democritus. In these Mystery Schools, the goddess Isis was especially venerated.
She personified Nature and according to one Greek interpretation she signified
occult knowledge. Isis also represented the Mystery Schools and those undergoing
training therein later emerged out of her womb and became known as the
"twice-born," for they were newly born of the Holy Spirit.

Contrary to what is popularly believed, the Great Pyramid of Cheops was not
built as a tomb, but as a "House of Initiation," a place where the teachings
of the gods were given by the "Master of the Secret Places" to those who
successfully passed the severe tests of earth, water, air, and fire. Spiritual
disciplines were taught that ultimately transformed each spiritual aspirant
at the point of their graduation into an embodiment of a god, or in our modern
metaphysical vernacular, "a perfect human being," or a "Christ,"--an anointed
one. In these sacred temples of learning and wisdom were to be found countless
statues, most of which were considered and worshipped as gods by the ignorant
masses, and as idols by the equally ignorant religious fanatics of succeeding
generations. Those involved with the initiatory temples, however, regarded
these statues as teaching devices and used them to portray certain aspects
of the microcosm and the laws or principles of Nature.

Many metaphysical disciplines were given to the tyro to practice in these
Mystery Schools; among the spiritual exercises given were the mudra disciplines.
Some of the statues and pictograms of the Egyptian gods are portrayed with
certain mudras. The neophyte was taught to assume these mudras while conducting
meditation, breathing, and visualization exercises.

Below we present just a few of these Egyptian mudras that you may incorporate
in your daily spiritual routine. You may choose to do only one at a time
in a single session. This is permissible; however, these Egyptian mudras,
would confer the greatest effect when all are done together successively
in a single work-out.

1) The Sun-Bearer Mudra. Place both hands outstretched above the head holding
an imaginary sun. Palms upward.
Visualize
the microcosmic sun as a divine fiery radiance--it is in fact the presence
of your Higher Self. Imagine the rays of the Higher Self pouring into your
upturned hands. Maintain this visualization and hand position for five to
ten minutes. Chant the mantra, "HU" over and over. This Egyptian mudra helps
one to absorb higher energies. The hands being positioned beyond the lower
layers of the aura and above the head makes it easier for one to contact
the magnetic-field of the superconscious Self and thereby empowering the
lower aspects of the microcosm. Unless otherwise indicated, let the breathing
rhythm be natural in this and the following exercises.

2) The Cross-Chest Mudra. This is an Egyptian gesture of royalty. The left
hand is placed on the right side of the chest, and the right hand on the
left side-as may be seen in the statuette of Osiris. As you will recall,
this is the Sign of Resignation. If you are standing or sitting upright with
the spinal column erect instead of in the lotus position, keep your feet
together. This will close the circuit at the lower region and allow energies
to circulate. Take a deep breath while in this position and hold it for as
long as comfortable. Then release the breath slowly. Repeat three times.
After three cycles of deep breathing maintain the mudra for five to ten minutes
more while breathing normally and chanting the mantra, "AIM" several times.
This mudra draws the energies of the aura into the physical body, especially
in the chest region. It helps to strengthen and awaken psychic centers there
such as the anahata chakra, or heart center. The thymus gland being empowered
via the heart chakra, the immunity level of the physical body would naturally
be fortified. This is one of the mudras taught by the Rosicrucian Order,
a mystical fraternity perpetuating the ancient occult wisdom. According to
the Order's oral tradition it was founded in ancient Egypt by Thutmose III--one
of the enlightened pharaohs that ruled the land of the Nile. This mudra
integrates the positive/solar and negative/lunar forces in the body. Divine
power in the physical system results with the use of this hand pose.

3) The Praise Mudra. The members of the Egyptian Mystery Schools were well
versed in the meaning and art of praising their gods. The temple hierophants
knew that the secret effects of praises were upon the person giving the praise
rather than the god receiving it. About two thousand years ago we were told
to love our enemies by an Initiate of the Egyptian Mystery School. Why? Because
love ennobles us. It does not matter if another deserves our love or not.
The act of loving unfolds our divine nature and causes a greater force of
our Higher Self to indwell in the physical form. The same principle
applies
to praising God, or any higher being more advanced than humanity. Divine
beings or the Source of all do not care if we praise or adore them in any
way. They are egoless and therefore unconcerned if we respect them or not.
In religious and spiritual teachings channeled down from the intelligences
of Light, we are taught to give praise and thanks to higher powers. This
is not for their sake but for ours. The celestial beings are concerned over
our spiritual development. The act of praising with a sincere and selfless
heart causes us to be energized with a renewed power and a zest for life
and is a healthy and a most essential spiritual discipline. Although praises
may be given in any bodily position, the Egyptian Masters have found that
a particular pose with a certain mudra offers a maximum effect. This is done
by squatting with the right knee touching the ground while the left knee
is raised. The left hand closed in a fist, is placed on the chest The right
arm is extended upwards to the side of the head and the hand also is in a
fist pointing upwards. A variation of this is to use the right index finger
to point upwards. Anubis, the god of the dead, has modeled this pose nicely
for us. Maintain this position for 5-10 minutes while giving silent thanks
to God for the life within you. During which time breathe normally while
chanting the
mantra,
"EMA-HA." In a little while you will feel regenerated. You will feel joy
pervading your being.

4) The Solar Plexus Energizer Mudra. All felines are symbols of solar energies.
So it is apt that Sekhmet, a feline goddess as depicted here, assumes a secret
pose that strengthens the sun center of her physical being, or in other words,
her solar plexus. The solar plexus has nerves connecting to almost every
organ in the body. By channeling energies or concentrating it in the solar
plexus, we cause our organs to function optimally. But one must be careful,
as over-polarization might cause problems. Assume this mudra while standing
or sitting. Breathe normally. Close the left hand into a fist and place it
over the solar plexus as shown by Sekhmet. The right hand, should also be
in a fist but placed to the side of the body. After 5-10 minutes of maintaining
this position reverse the hand positions. The right hand in a fist over the
solar plexus, while the left hand to the side of the body. Do this for another
5-10 minutes while mentally asking your Higher Self to energize your solar
plexus and also chanting slowly the mantra, "RA-MA" about 9 times.

5)
The Magnetizer Mudra. This mudra has a twofold purpose. It is used to absorb
pranic energies from the environment or from some specific source; it likewise
is employed for the purpose of magnetizing one's aura so as to strengthen
it against invading metaphysical forces. This mudra confers various benefits,
it may improve one's health, augment one's store of psychic energy, acquire
charisma, etc. To execute this mudra one may sit or stand, or assume the
asana as portrayed by the goddess Nephthys: place the left foot underneath
the buttocks and sit on it. The right foot is placed on the ground with the
knee pointed upwards. Now put your two hands in front of you, palms outwards.
If you are doing this mudra to absorb energies then visualize and feel the
energy from infinite space streaming into the palms of your hands as sparks
of golden and silvery lights. Or if you wish to attract energy from a specific
source--from the sun, for instance, then visualize and feel the "yod" or
"rain" drops of power entering your palms from the sun. Do this for 5-10
minutes. Visualize the cosmic forces entering your being as you inhale.

To magnetize your aura with this mudra, simply imagine and visualize a flow
of golden energy flowing from your palms and filling your aura--a circumscribed
space surrounding you. See your aura being permeated with this effulgent
energy. This should be done for 5-10 minutes. Visualize psychic energy flowing
from you as you exhale.

Whether you are absorbing energies or magnetizing your aura, chant the following
mantra several times while visualizing : "EMA-BA." This mantra will anchor
the power to wherever you are directing the energies. Chanting may be done
verbally or mentally whichever is comfortable and appropriate.

The mudra is also used to confer or empower others with energy. After generating
the necessary energy, focus your palms to the back of the recipient about
an inch away from the physical form. Then, visualize energy flowing from
the palms of your hands and into the body of the subject. You may visualize
the energy as a brilliant white, silver or golden light. While thus channeling
energy from your palms, move them upwards and downwards along the right and
left sides of the spine where the ganglia of the nervous system are located.
This operation will have a healing and strengthening effect on the subject
and if done in conjunction with specific powers possessed by the operator--these
could also be transferred or channeled.

6) The Pyramid Mudra. This mudra strengthens the negative polarity of the
physical body and generates a strong magnetic
force
for attracting cosmic energies of the positive polarity, thus balancing the
"Yang" and "Yin" of the microcosm. This mudra is to be done prior to the
magnetizer mudra above. The animated image shown is an excellent portrayal
of this hand-mudra, though it is unnecessary to move your head as shown by
the toon-image.

To do this mudra, simply place the palms of your hands together and above
the head. Place your two feet together while in the standing position. Now
hold this position for 5-10 minutes while chanting and vibrating the word
"Ma." After several minutes of chanting, inhale deeply and then exhale and
hold your lungs empty for as long as comfortable. When you need to breathe,
do so, and then as you exhale, repeat the above. Do this special breathing
for several cycles, after which you may continue with the other mudras.

The above represent just a few of the Egyptian mudras that have come down
to us, the explanations of which are simply guidelines. Feel free to improvise
and experiment.